Giants defensive coordinator Perry Fewell ready for next interviews

Noah K. Murray/The Star-LedgerGiants defensive coordinator Perry Fewell said he'll be ready next time teams come calling to interview him for their head coaching position.

Perry Fewell helped transform the Giants’ defense last season, turning the league’s 13th-ranked unit in 2009 into the No. 7 defense in 2010 that led the NFL in takeaways. Although Fewell valued his spot with the Giants, he became a desirable head-coaching candidate once the season concluded and it appeared that Giants coach Tom Coughlin might need to find his fourth defensive coordinator in four seasons.

Fewell interviewed with four teams: the Broncos, Browns, Panthers and Titans. He did not land any of the jobs, yet Fewell insisted Tuesday that the interviews could prove valuable whenever his opportunity arrives.

“I know now, probably more so than ever, that I’m ready,” Fewell said. “I’m prepared to lead a club and an organization and a football team into battle on Sundays to win a Super Bowl. I learned a lot about administration and organization and preparation as far as the interview process is concerned.”

Fewell’s next coaching assignment will begin later this month. He will work at the Giants’ non-contact football youth camp at Our Lady of the Valley in Wayne from June 27 to July 1 while also visiting some of the 28 other camps throughout the tri-state area. Fifteen of the 29 camps are in New Jersey.

By the time the camps conclude, Fewell hopes the NFL’s lockout is settled and that he’ll be able to coordinate the Giants’ defense again. The group will be bolstered by the additions of first-round cornerback Prince Amukamara and second-round defensive tackle Marvin Austin. Fewell is eager to coach the rookies, who will help a defense that Fewell believes will improve in 2011.

“I think all we did was just scratch the surface of what we can be with the New York Giants,” Fewell said. “I thought we played well, but we didn’t play consistent enough. And as a guy that aspires to be a head football coach, we want consistency in our play and in our game.”

Fewell’s aspirations received support from the Giants’ front office, which aided Fewell’s preparations for the coaching interviews. Although Fewell finished 3-4 in seven games as the Bills’ interim head coach in 2009, the offseason interviews were Fewell’s best opportunities of becoming an NFL coach.

Assistant general manager Kevin Abrams broke down the salary cap situation of the four franchises that interviewed Fewell. The personnel department assembled clips of the players on each roster so Fewell could better assess the strengths and weaknesses of the teams.

And when it appeared that Fewell might be interviewed simply to satisfy the “Rooney Rule” that requires franchises to interview minority candidates, general manager Jerry Reese made phone calls to ensure the Titans maintained legitimate interest.

Fewell did not want to discuss what he did well and what he would like to improve in future interviews because he was afraid of providing an advantage to other coaches. But he was particularly grateful to interview with four executives he did not know prior to the offseason. He now feels comfortable supplying each one as a reference.

“Talk to Mike Holmgren about Perry Fewell’s interview,” Fewell said of what he can tell general managers looking for a head coach in the future. “Even though I did not obtain a job, I got really good positive feedback. I feel very good about my preparation and my goal of becoming a head coach.”